If Liam couldn't literally be with the woman he loved, protecting her with his presence, he would do what he did best—study and learn. Maybe he would find something that would be helpful to her in dealing with Edward. He sat hunched over the books, itching to rip the guy apart.

He knew one thing: he had never felt this way about a shark.

Picking up the phone, he called Lily. The phone barely rang, and then she answered it.

“I want to bring Rose home to you,” Liam said without preamble. “We're letting this idiot dictate our lives.”

Lily was silent. Liam felt her, a million miles away, lost in her old life. He wanted to reel her back, remind her of what they had, show her how much he loved her, how strong they would be together. Strong enough to face anything.

The rumble of monster waves came through the open window, shook the cottage. Ghost Hills were alive tonight. They pounded the beach, and he felt the rhythm in his body.

“Lily?” he asked.

“I want that,” Lily said, her voice so quiet, it was nearly drowned out by the roar of the waves ten miles out at sea. “But I'm afraid for Rose. I have to think, Liam.”

“And I have to see you, Lily,” he said.

When she hung up, all he could hear was the sound of his own heart. It was pounding, like the carrying echoes of Ghost Hills crashing on the reef. It swamped him and pushed him under, made it impossible to breathe. Liam shut down the computer, walked through the small house, and stood at the open porch door.

Stars flashed overhead. He hoped that Lily could see them. The constellations rose out of the sea, as if living creatures glowing with bioluminescence had flown into the sky. The stars told stories of myth and love. The sea was full of Ghost Hills and white whales. Didn't Lily know what a miracle it all was? He hoped that Nanny was watching over her—because Liam couldn't be there to do it.

Marisa had never seen a Cape Hawk evening like this. The normally sleepy streets were bustling with people, some carrying instrument cases, some running to make their performance times. People picnicked on the lawn of the inn, and down along the wharf. The Nanouk Girls had all come into town to listen to the night's ceili offerings, and Marisa tried to enjoy it all.

They spread their blankets in a row beside the stone fisherman in the village square. Marlena had brought grapes, bread, and cheese, Cindy had brought wine for the grownups and lemonade for the kids, Alison had made a big salad, Anne had raided the inn's kitchen and supplied lobster rolls for everyone. Marisa and Jessica had made Toll House cookies for dessert.